Tension gripped Dhaka University on Tuesday evening as the announcement of the Dhaka University Central Students` Union (DUCSU) election results sparked political unrest, with law enforcement agencies placed on high alert amid fears of post-poll clashes.
While the polling process remained largely peaceful throughout the day, barring a few isolated incidents, the atmosphere turned volatile after voting concluded. Candidates and student groups began exchanging allegations of irregularities, and large numbers of activists from Jamaat-e-Islami, its student wing Chhatra Shibir, and the BNP started gathering outside the campus, particularly in the Nilkhet and Shahbagh areas, raising concerns over potential violence.
Police have since deployed additional forces across the DU campus and surrounding zones. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DC) Masud Alam of the DMP’s Ramna Division confirmed that law enforcement is fully prepared to respond to any untoward situation.
“We have increased our presence since the evening and are conducting searches of suspicious vehicles,” he said. “All units, including police and other security forces, are on high alert to maintain order.”
The situation escalated amid claims by Abidul Islam Khan, the Chhatra Dal-backed Vice President candidate, who accused the university administration of “extreme failure” in ensuring a fair and transparent election. Speaking to reporters, he alleged widespread obstruction at polling centers.
“We’ve been touring the centers since morning,” Khan said. “Every time we approached a center, we were mistreated. As a candidate, I was denied entry despite having clearance under the code of conduct. In many places, we were left standing like orphans. Our time was deliberately wasted.”
His remarks reflect growing frustration among opposition panels, who claim the electoral process was tilted in favor of pro-Jamaat candidates.
In a bid to calm tensions, Sadiq Kayem, the Chhatra Shibir-backed VP candidate, called for unity during an emergency press conference held in front of the DU Senate building. He urged all candidates and student leaders to accept the election results, regardless of the outcome.
“There is no real concept of winning or losing in this DUCSU election,” Kayem said. “We were all comrades of the July Revolution. Together, we ended the authoritarian rule of Sheikh Hasina. To fulfill the aspirations of that uprising, we must now work together. We will accept whoever the students choose.”
He added, “Forcing any outcome on the student body will only backfire. We accept the students’ mandate, and we call on everyone to do the same. I hope those plotting conspiracies will step back and choose peace.”
Despite Kayem’s appeal, the mood on campus remains tense. With rival student factions maintaining a visible presence in key locations and the official results yet to be declared, authorities are bracing for potential unrest.
The DUCSU elections, long seen as a barometer of student politics in Bangladesh, come at a critical juncture in the country’s post-July political transition.
The outcome, and how it is received, could have far-reaching implications for campus democracy and broader political dynamics.
As the night deepens, Dhaka University remains under watch, with the eyes of the nation fixed on the unfolding events within its historic walls.
